Banned driver hit 60 in 20mph zone - court
The pursuit had started in the Halifax Road area
- Published
A banned driver who hit speeds of up to 80mph during a police pursuit in Bradford has been jailed.
Zara Imtiaz, 32, was behind the wheel of a VW Golf with passengers in the vehicle when she embarked on a "protracted" period of dangerous driving in August.
Prosecutor Joel Wooten told Bradford Crown Court that during the pursuit police officers saw sparks fly from the rear of the car as uninsured Imtiaz drove over speed bumps.
Recorder Bryan Cox jailed her for eight months after she admitted dangerous driving.
The court heard that Imtiaz, of Stephenson Street, Bradford - who had several previous convictions for driving while disqualified - had reached speeds of 60mph in a 20mph zone.
She was eventually arrested as she tried to clamber into the rear of the Golf when the vehicle was blocked in on a dead end street.
Imtiaz appeared at court via a video link to New Hall Prison where she was serving a 16-week jail sentence imposed by magistrates for other driving offences.
She also pleaded guilty to driving while disqualified and having no insurance.
In addition to the jail term Imtiaz, who has a young daughter, was banned from driving again for two years and four months and ordered to take an extended re-test.
'Highly dangerous'
Recorder Cox was told that Imtiaz was remorseful and wanted to apologise for her “severe lapse in judgement”, but he said she had a very poor record for driving offences.
“This was a very serious instance of dangerous driving over a protracted period when you had passengers in your car and you drove at very excessive speeds in a highly dangerous fashion,” the judge said.
“I’m afraid there has to be an immediate custodial sentence to reflect the seriousness of what you did.”
Recorder Cox said he had reduced the sentence to reflect Imtiaz’s guilty pleas and the progress she was making while in custody.
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